When war, famine and poverty affect so many humans, why should we care about thesuffering of animals? We
create the kind of society we live in through our daily actions.

When
we tolerate cruelty to animals we are tolerating cruelty itself, and
cruelty has a harmful affect on human society. Civilization
and peace need co-operation to exist, and
cruelty does not promoteco-operation.

When we allow our children to see animals suffer, we teach them to ignore all suffering.

Children
learn from adults how the world should be. Many
of us will rely on the care of our children as we age. We will
also rely on the care of other people's children: doctors,
nurses, paramedics, and anyone else who will affect our lives in
our vulnerable years. Surely we want our future care-givers
to be sensitive to our needs and concerns.

If
we teach children to be insensitive to pain and suffering when
they see it in animals, we might find they are not so sensitive to
human pain either.

Humans
are more powerful.
Doesn't
that mean we are more important?

Some
people believe that 'might-makes-right' and it is acceptable to
mistreat animals simply 'because we can'. If we follow this
theory entirely, then humans would live in a constant state of war and
aggression where the strongest of humans kill off the weaker. Is this
the kind of world we would choose to live in?

If
we want protection for ourselves from stronger individuals and nations,
how can we justify a 'might makes right' way of treating other
species?

Major World Views and Ways of thinking about Animals

Some people believe humans were created by God and animals were created solely for their use.

If
this is what one believes, then isn't it disrespectful to God to treat
the other creatures He created in an irresponsible way?

If
animals were created by God, then their ability to feel emotional and
physical pain, as well as their needs and behaviours were defined by God.
Who then are we to ignore the needs of animals if those needs were
instilled in them by God Himself?

Are
we humans really so arrogant that we believe that God cares only for us
and not for the other sensitive, feeling creatures that He created?

Other
people believe in evolution of the species: that all of the world's creatures, including humans, descended from common ancestors.

According
to this life view all of the earth's inhabitants evolved in ways that
best adapted them to their environments. Deeply ingrained characteristics
like emotional/social needs, and physical behaviours, are hard-wired'
and would need countless generations to change. If
then, all creatures - both human and non-human - have social, physical and
emotional needs that are deeply ingrained and necessary to their well
being, is it not irresponsible for humans to deny animals these
evolutionary needs?

Neither
of these views justifies how humans continue to cause animal
suffering.